Nicholas J. Ganjei United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas
In a concerted effort to bolster border security, the Southern District of Texas has initiated 281 new cases from May 23-29 under Operation Take Back America. This announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
The recent filings include charges against 105 individuals for illegal reentry into the United States. Many of these individuals have previous felony convictions related to narcotics, violent crimes, and sexual offenses. A total of 163 individuals are charged with illegal entry, while other cases involve human smuggling, child sexual abuse material (CSAM), and firearms offenses.
One case involves Carlos Enrique Gonzalez-Pena, who allegedly possessed CSAM while in the U.S. on a work visa. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison. Another case involves Humberto Vasquez, who is accused of attempting to exit the U.S. with firearms and ammunition without an export license; he could face up to ten years in prison if found guilty.
Three Mexican nationals were also apprehended near Mission for being illegally present in the U.S., all facing charges of illegal reentry which could lead to sentences of up to 20 years each.
In Houston, a federal jury convicted Jose Martin Valdez-Galvan for illegally reentering the country under an assumed identity after being previously removed twice from the U.S.
U.S. Attorney Ganjei emphasized that public safety necessitates knowing who enters and resides within national borders: “Those that adopt false or stolen personas... pose an increased criminal risk.” He reiterated that identity theft by foreign nationals would not be tolerated.
Additionally, Honduran national Josias Eliseo Ulloa-Pavon admitted during proceedings that he was illegally possessing a firearm following a crash while intoxicated in Corpus Christi.
Two men from Brownfield confessed in Laredo federal court this week to conspiring to transport illegal aliens after being caught circumventing a Border Patrol checkpoint with three undocumented immigrants hidden in their vehicle.
Juan Humberto Lara Molina received a sentence of 24 months in federal prison following his conviction for illegal reentry amidst his extensive criminal history involving drugs and weapons violations.
These cases are supported by various law enforcement agencies including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Border Patrol (BP), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, and others as part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative targeting illegal immigration and transnational crime organizations.
The Southern District's commitment remains focused on public safety and securing borders through enhanced enforcement efforts coordinated among multiple levels of law enforcement partners across its jurisdiction covering over nine million people across 43 counties.
An indictment or criminal complaint signifies formal accusations but does not constitute evidence; defendants remain presumed innocent until proven guilty through due process.
